Separator for Stacked or Nested Containers

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the Separator is to prevent commonly used containers that stack together, from being stuck inside one another due to various conditions or from materials action, such as suction, stiction, material adherence, and or any other actions that would prevent easy separation. This is accomplished by the attachment of the invention, which is given a shape generally conforming to the outside circumference of the applicable container, and may be inserted under the part of the container that provides a cavity for such, or attached to the wire and may or may not be provided with a projection or protruding part which will assist in retaining it. This device prevents containers from settling or being forced into another and preventing easy extraction from the other. This device separates the containers so stacked by enough space to prevent the clinging action from taking place.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent Ser. No. 62/255,798, Filed Nov. 16, 2015, by present inventors(s), which is incorporated in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to the field of utility type buckets, pails, and containers that may be nestled or stacked for storage or transport.

Description of Related Art

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that appears relevant as examples of inventions and applications that this invention will or can impact, as well as others of like nature:

U.S. Patents

Pat. No. Issue Date Patentee 3,425,471 1969 Feb. 4 Yates 4,181,226 1980 Jan. 1 Weinert 4,293,073 1981 Oct. 6 Yates US2014/0361026 A1 2014 Dec. 11 Carnesecca

Industry use of nesting type buckets, pails and other containers have become commonplace. Industries such as construction, agriculture, and aquaculture especially, use these containers extensively.

These buckets, pails, and various other related containers shall be hereafter referred to simply as containers to allow brevity in the narratives concerning them.

These types of containers, ranging from one to several gallons in capacity, have made storage when not in use, a simple yet effective space and time saving endeavor.

There exists a serious problem with the majority of these containers. The smooth textured surfaces are often pressed snugly together when in the nested or stacked condition. This effectively creates a close-fitting relationship which can cause an air tight seal or a severe case of stiction between the material sides of two or more stacked containers. This stiction or sealing connection prevents the containers from being readily separated. In many cases these conditions make it impossible to separate the various containers without manual deformation or actual destruction, of one or more of the nested or stacked containers.

Manufacturers have stressed the storage capabilities of their designs, but appear to have ignored the long time aforementioned problem. Several designs actually stress their providing such a dust sealing feature as part of their improvements on existing container designs which in fact exacerbates the separation problem.

In many cases, these containers cannot be forced apart even with mechanical means, as the design and construction which makes them so useful and inexpensive, also fails to provide enough structural integrity to withstand those forces. This results in diminishing their functionality and usefulness, as well as wasting containers that are damaged during this effort. This problem is wide spread, and greatly documented on the Internet and in various industry publications, where many tens of thousands of complaints are posted by users of all types.

At present, no previously produced means or logical solution has been identified enabling easier separation of these containers.

Most users contend with the aforementioned problem by placing extraneous material items in the bottom of the containers, such as wood, foam, or other items to prevent this sealing process, which reduces their space saving usefulness. Depending on what materials are used they can sometimes cause reactions and detrimental effects including that of personnel safety when contacting the normal container contents from either direct contact or surface contamination.

Another solution has been to pierce the bottom portion of the container with pins, screws, nails or other objects that provide relief by providing an internal support for the upper containers bottom but that completely negate the liquid holding properties of the containers.

SUMMARY

This invention provides a solution to the aforementioned problem with the majority of these container designs. The smooth textured surfaces produced by either design or manufacturing processes often cause a severe clinging action between nested or stacked containers.

A close-fitted relationship between nested or stacked containers can cause a pronounced problem of the nestled or stacked containers sticking to one another, preventing easy separation without damage. Various methods abounding in the industries and in public use generally fail to address the aforementioned problem without nullifying many of the intended design features or ease of use.

This invention can provide adequate separation between nested or stacked containers, to prevent the aforementioned problem. The invention is easily applied and can be readily removed for use with another such container when the presently used container is disposed of or replaced.

While adding a slight height increase to the total nesting or stacking height, the advantages of the invention increases ease of use of the resultantly provided containers. The invention also reduces or removes the costs due to damage while separating containers not using the invention, making it a valuable aid in their use.

Another major advantage of the invention is that of the many man hours saved for industries such as agriculture, by example, in trying to physically or mechanically resolve the aforementioned problem. With hundreds or even thousands of such containers being used on a daily basis with its attendant wasted time, wages, and damage losses, use of the invention makes it a worthwhile, earnest and valuable solution to this far reaching and seemingly global problem.

The invention is used by simply inserting the item of the invention either into the various sized and shaped voids underneath the portion of the container where the bail or handle wire attaches, or in the case of containers without this void, to be pressed onto the wire of that bail for retention. There are also many other variations and iterations possible for use with different types of containers than those mentioned as examples. The shape, materials, inclusions or mechanics of its application can be extended for use with a substantially large percentage of containers in use, or those of future designs and configuration such as may be present iterations of container designs.

When the invention is inserted or attached upon the container it then provides a surface that protrudes horizontally, downwardly past the normal envelope of the containers edge, This provides a stable surface for the container immediately beneath to come in contact with. Contact with the invention thus removes the sealing or stiction based problem of removing the upper container from the lower nest or stack. This is then used to again provide a stable nesting or stacking ability as the containers were designed for, up to the limit of the number of containers nested or stacked, as desired by the user or dictated by practicality or the manufacturer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. Many embodiments and variations of the present invention are possible, as is its use with differing items of nesting and stacking methodology and designs.

FIG. 1A is a front elevational view of the invention in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1B is a rear elevational view of the invention in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1C is a side elevational view of the invention in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the invention in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1E is a top elevational view of the invention in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1F is a bottom elevational view of the invention in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of an example of prior art from U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,226, depicting a method of separating buckets from stacking too deeply when nested.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an example of prior art from U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,471, depicting the aforementioned problem of nesting without a separation method or device, that causes the aforementioned problem identified in the background description of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an example of prior art from US Patent #US201403610260A1, depicting the aforementioned problem of nesting without a separation method or device, that causes the aforementioned problem identified in the background description of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an example of prior art from U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,073, depicting the aforementioned problem of nesting without a separation method or device, that causes the aforementioned problem identified in the background description of the invention.

FIG. 6A is a side perspective view of an example depicting the more common buckets produced such as the Home Depot Homer Bucket #05GLHD2, the Lowe's Encore Bucket #57640, the Letica Corporation Bucket #5RT WH00, the U.S. Plastic Corporation #s 2277, 2352, and 2286, and the Baytec Container Bucket #1167-XX-1PK, and others produced from the same essential design parameters.

FIG. 6B is a side perspective view of an example of the nested or stacked buckets of those types enumerated in FIG. 6A, depicting the aforementioned problem of nesting without a separation method or device. Such placement causes the aforementioned problem identified in the background description of the invention.

FIG. 6C is a bottom perspective view of an example of the portion of the of those types enumerated in FIG. 6A, showing the normal voided area where the bail is attached, allowing it free and unencumbered movement, that the invention is in one embodiment, placed within.

FIG. 7A is a side perspective view of an example depicting the more common buckets produced such as the Home Depot Bucket #209338, 2099337, the Rubbermaid #11426, #FG296300, FG296400, the Carlisle Corporation Bucket #1182905, and the U.S. Plastic Corporation #s 2340, 2341, 2342, 12668, 3081, and others produced from the same essential design parameters.

FIG. 7B is a side perspective view of an example of the nested or stacked buckets of those types enumerated in FIG. 7A, depicting the aforementioned problem of nesting without a separation method or device. Such placement causes the aforementioned problem identified in the background description of the invention.

FIG. 8A is a side perspective view that shows an example of the buckets enumerated in FIG. 6A, indicating the proper path of insertion of the invention.

FIG. 8B is an enlarged portion of FIG. 8A, to better show details of the application.

FIG. 9A is a side perspective view that shows an example of the buckets enumerated in FIG. 6A, depicting the actual insertion of the invention.

FIG. 9B is a side perspective view of an example of the nested or stacked buckets of those types enumerated in FIG. 6A, depicting the actual insertion of the invention.

FIG. 10A is a side perspective view of an example of the nested or stacked buckets of those types exampled in FIG. 6B, depicting the nesting or stacking with the invention in place, providing the extra height required to prevent sealing or stiction from allowing easy removal of the upper container.

FIG. 10B is a side perspective view of an example of the nested or stacked buckets of those types enumerated in FIG. 10A, depicting the nesting or stacking with the invention in place, providing the extra height required to prevent sealing or stiction from allowing easy removal of the upper container.

FIG. 11A is a side perspective view that shows an example of the buckets enumerated in FIG. 7A, indicating the proper path of insertion of the invention.

FIG. 11B is an enlarged portion of FIG. 8A, to better show details of the application.

FIG. 12A is a side perspective view that shows an example of the buckets enumerated in FIG. 7A, depicting the actual insertion of the invention.

FIG. 12B is an enlarged portion of FIG. 12A, to better show details of the application.

FIG. 13A is a front perspective view that shows an example of the buckets enumerated in FIG. 7A, depicting the actual insertion of the invention.

FIG. 13B is an enlarged portion of FIG. 13A, to better show details of the application.

FIG. 14A is a side perspective view of an example of the nested or stacked buckets of those types exampled in FIG. 7B, depicting the nesting or stacking with the invention in place, providing the extra height required to prevent sealing or stiction from allowing easy removal of the upper container.

FIG. 14B is an enlarged portion of FIG. 14A, to better show details of the application.

FIG. 15A is a front perspective view of an example of the nested or stacked buckets of those types exampled in FIG. 7B, depicting the nesting or stacking with the invention in place, providing the extra height required to prevent sealing or stiction from allowing easy removal of the upper container.

FIG. 15B is an enlarged portion of FIG. 15A, to better show details of the application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications, variations and equivalents. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described.

Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

While the present invention is susceptible to modifications and alternative constructions, the illustrated embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not the intention to limit the invention to the particular forms and shapes disclosed; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalences and alternative constructions, as useful in particular unshown container and other article designs and constructions, as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

The preponderance of containers this invention would be used for are usually made from synthesized materials, but the applications should and do include those made from such materials as metals, synthetics, wood, or any other construction materials providing a like semblance to the types of containers and surfaces aforementioned. This should also be meant to apply to other container forms, such as square, pleated or oddly shaped containers also being designed for nesting and stacking. Alternate designs of the invention due to insertion, addition or arranging the invention onto or into various differently shaped containers or attach points on various differently shaped containers may be considered simply as additional embodiments of this invention as they are developed and applied.

Referring to FIG. 1 in its iterations of 1A,1B,1C,1D,1E and 1F, there is illustrated an example of a common mode of manufacture and structural shape for this invention. The examples are shown as one possible embodiment of the invention, but it may be in various forms, shapes, and arrangements to accommodate usage as the spirit of the invention is provided for. Referring to FIG. 1A there is the invention itself 20, which shows the multifunctional shape of this illustrated example embodiment of the invention, an open channel roughly the size of the bail or wire handle of the container 24, or a slightly smaller size to allow frictional pass through of the wire and the open area 22, of a, which allows the bail or wire handle, once forced into that area 22, to allow said bail to swing freely, unimpeded throughout its normal movement arc. FIG. 1D also illustrates these same attributes, but in a perspective view. FIG. 1B illustrates the rear view of the invention 20, also illuminating the addition of projections 26 of a nature that will allow them to apply some useful additional pressure to the inside of the void 30, if needed where the bail attaches on buckets of the style illustrated as an example in FIG. 6A. These projections 26 may be molded into the invention or be pierced through the body of the invention such as a pin, or nail, or other protuberance that will affect the same retentive pressure, whether made as a part of the invention 20, or added separately as needed by design and applications. FIGS. 1C, 1E and 1F also show the relative thickness of the illustrated invention 20 as to its relative size for easy but snug insertion into the void 30 of the container. This illustrated size is but for reference, with actual size and thickness dictated by application and design for particular containers, herein illustrated, referenced or not. FIG. 1E, 1F and to an extent, FIG. 1D, show an example of one of the many possible shapes the invention may take. These views also illustrate the annular aspect of the invention given for these examples, herein shown as closely fitting the perimeter of the referenced containers. This does not imply a necessary shape or form though, as those can take any number of transformations to accommodate the design and form of the containers it may be used with, such as straight, curved, bent or as needs be for a particularly designed container . . . .

FIG. 2 is an illustration of prior art that employs the outset part of its bail 28 to manage separation from the next container nested or stacked, but does not adequately prevent the aforementioned problem.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of prior art illustrating another aspect of containers structured like those of shown as an example in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, with attention drawn to the void 30 on these container styles.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of prior art illustrating another aspect of containers structured like those of shown as an example in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, with attention drawn to the void 30 on these container styles, as in the buckets such as the Home Depot Homer Bucket #05GLHD2, the Lowe's Encore Bucket #57640, the Letica Corporation Bucket #5RT WH00, the U.S. Plastic Corporation #s 2277, 2352, and 2286, and the Baytec Container Bucket #1167-XX-1PK, and others produced from the same essential design parameters. FIG. 6C shows a portion of an inverted common bucket example of those types, illustrating the area referenced as a void 30 that the invention 20 would normally be inserted into.

FIG. 7A illustrates the example depicting other common buckets produced such as the Home Depot Bucket #209338, 2099337, the Rubbermaid #11426, #FG296300, FG296400, the Carlisle Corporation Bucket #1182905, and the U.S. Plastic Corporation #s 2340, 2341, 2342, 12668, 3081, and others produced from the same essential design parameters, without a void 30 area for the insertion of the invention, but with space on the wire of the bail where it attaches to the container 32, which allows the area 24 depicted in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1D, and 1F, of the invention 20 to be pressed over the bail wire handle and to allow the bail wire to come to rest in the open area 22, which allows said bail to swing unimpeded throughout its normal movement arc. Usage on this type of container may require a narrower aspect of the inventions 20 thickness from front to back, to allow for adequate attachment where the type of container does not have an extended area at the bail attach point 32.

FIG. 7B illustrates a nested or stacked presentation of those same containers illustrated in FIG. 7A, depicting the method of nesting without a separation method or device that causes the aforementioned problem identified in the background description of the invention. The only part of the illustrated container that may prevents complete insertion resulting in an impenetrable seal between nested or stacked containers is the bail area 32 where the bail attaches to the container.

FIG. 8A illustrates the intended path of insertion for the invention 20 used in conjunctions with the type of containers referenced in FIG. 6A, indicating its intended insertion into and within the void 30 area. FIG. 8B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8A for a clearer understanding of the proper placement of the invention 20 for this type of container.

FIG. 9A illustrates the invention 20 actually inserted into and within the void 30 of the type of container referenced in FIG. 6A. FIG. 9B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9A for a clearer understanding of the proper placement of the invention 20 for this type of container.

FIG. 10A illustrates the invention 20 actually inserted into and within the void 30 of the type of container referenced in FIG. 6B and the resulting contact between an upper bucket equipped with the invention 20, in a nested or stacked condition upon another like container. FIG. 10B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 10A for a clearer understanding of the proper placement of the invention 20 for this type of container.

FIG. 11A illustrates the intended path of insertion for the invention 20 used in conjunction with the type of containers referenced in FIG. 7A, indicating its intended insertion onto the wire bail at its attached location 32. FIG. 11B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 11A for a clearer understanding of the proper placement of the invention 20 for this type of container.

FIG. 12A illustrates the invention 20 actually inserted onto the wire bail at its attached location on the type of container referenced in FIG. 7A. FIG. 12B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 12A for a clearer understanding of the proper placement of the invention 20 for this type of container.

FIG. 13A illustrates a front perspective view of the invention 20 actually inserted onto the wire bail at its attached location on the type of container referenced in FIG. 7B. FIG. 13B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 13A for a clearer understanding of the proper placement of the invention 20 for this type of container.

FIG. 14A illustrates the invention 20 actually inserted onto the wire bail at its attached location on the type of container referenced in FIG. 7B and the resulting contact between an upper bucket equipped with the invention 20, in a nested or stacked condition upon another like container. FIG. 14B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 14A for a clearer understanding of the proper placement of the invention 20 for this type of container.

FIG. 15A illustrates a front perspective view of the invention 20 actually inserted onto the wire bail at its attached location on the type of container referenced in FIG. 7B and the resulting contact between an upper bucket equipped with the invention 20, in a nested or stacked condition upon another like container. FIG. 15B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 15A for a clearer understanding of the proper placement of the invention 20 for this type of container.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the separator have been described, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of containers. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention, and utilizing its premise other than described or shown by example. Although the description contains some specificies, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the invention can have other shapes, the open channel and open area can have other shapes; the groove of the open channel may be used with an angular or curved aspect, of a thinner or thicker width to fit properly with otherwise unshown containers of current or future design. Following this vein, the entire shape, and all aspects of its dimensions can be changed as needed to accommodate other unshown containers of current or future design.

Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by usage of the invention with any of various containers that experience the need for its application in present or other form. 

1. The invention claimed is used to separate containers of the type meant to be nestled or stacked for storage or transport, from displaying an inherent trait of clinging or sticking together, when in the designed condition of being nestled or stacked, which prevents their being removed from one another without possibility of damage or deformation resulting.
 2. The invention is either inserted or attached to appropriate parts of a type of container described in claim 1, providing a proper spacing between nestled or stacked containers to prevent said containers from having the effect of clinging one to another, and preventing proper removal and application.
 3. The invention provides substantial relief from unnecessary expenditure of labor, time and associated costs which are present when containers such as disclosed in claim 1 are required to be separated by force, either mechanical or human, to separate same for designed use and applications.
 4. The invention also provides ease from problems derived from attempts to provide such separation by insertion of different materials and objects within the lower container to provide the space disclosed in claim
 2. These attempts at separation by disparate materials can have cause possible safety and health related dangers due to reactions or deleterious effects when contacting the normal container contents whether through direct contact with the said materials or from contamination from their use. This invention removes that concern through its use.
 5. The invention also provides a solution to the practice of piercing the bottom portion of the containers with pins, screws, nails or other objects that provide spatial relief by providing a resting place for the upper containers bottom, but that completely abrogate the liquid holding properties of the containers, whereby the containers may be used for their properly designed purpose, and absent the piercings, can be reused or utilized for other uses with their liquid holding properties intact. 